Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in With the Fire on High, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Coming of Age and Teen Parenthood
Creativity vs. Professional Norms
Food and Connection
Caregiving, Independence, and Identity
Support, Community, and Mentorship
Summary
Analysis
Emoni hurries so she’s the first one to Culinary Arts. When Chef Ayden says they missed Emoni last week, Emoni says she’s not a quitter. She didn’t understand why he was making her throw food away that she thought was good, but she thinks she gets it now. She promises to work hard and learn. She explains that she visited Café Sorrel over the weekend, and it made Emoni realize that she can be like the chef one day. Chef says nothing for a minute, and then he says Lisa (the chef) is excellent. Then, he says they’re looking for someone to head the fundraising campaign for the Spain trip. It would prepare Emoni to be a head chef to take on this leadership position, so would she like it?
It’s a huge step for Emoni to approach Chef Ayden and admit that she was wrong. She’s essentially expressing interest in setting aside her independence in favor of being part of the team that is her class. Chef seems well aware that this is a huge shift for Emoni. By offering her the lead fundraising position, he implies that he forgives her any rudeness and establishes himself as one of her biggest supporters. Noting that it will prepare her to be a head chef one day suggests too that he believes that she can indeed attain that position.
Themes
Emoni is so shocked she barely understands. But she knows now that being a chef is about “pay[ing] [your] dues” by folding napkins, doing dishes, and raising money. She reaches out to shake Chef Ayden’s hand. He says that she has what it takes to be a good chef someday, and he would like to acknowledge that she has “something special.” Still, he won’t treat her any differently.
It’s no doubt a huge boost for Emoni to hear that she has “something special” from the very person who’s made her doubt whether she’s cut out for chef work. But here, Emoni shows that she knows that chefs aren’t solo performers. They’re part of a team, and if she wants to be a chef one day, she must grow into a good team player.
Themes
